Best Friends (New Species Book 15) Read online

  Mary took a step closer, glancing at the big man next to Mel before backing up. It was clear she was too afraid to come any closer.

  Mel didn’t feel pain. It should hurt, right? Her arm just kind of throbbed as if it suddenly had its own heartbeat.

  Mr. Blue Eyes put his hands on her waist. They were large, and she could feel the warmth of them through her thin work T-shirt. He turned her toward him more, and it made her stumble since she seemed suddenly unable to control her legs.

  Mr. Blue Eyes looked at something over her shoulder. “Don’t. Stay back.” He looked down at Mel again and his grip tightened. “It’s going to be okay.”

  I’m shot. I shot people. Real people. Not pesky vermin.

  Mel was afraid to turn her head to see if either of the men still lived. She just stared deeply into Mr. Blue Eyes’ gaze. He held onto her. It was probably the only thing that kept her upright because she felt as if she might collapse as reality slowly sank in.

  I shot people. Real people.

  “How is she, Snow?” They were growled words from the other side of the room.

  Mr. Blue Eyes didn’t look away from her. “She needs a doctor.”

  Snow. That’s his name. She’d wondered for a long time but it had seemed rude to flat-out ask since it was a rule around town to treat visiting New Species as if they were royalty. Sheriff Cooper was known for being a crusty old bastard who was fond of the New Species, and he let everyone know not to mess with them in any way. That included asking questions. He said they got enough of that from the reporters that sometimes showed up in town.

  Plus, she didn’t want Snow to guess that she had a massive crush on him.

  “I’m in communication with Reservation. Medical is being put on alert.” That deep voice came from one of the New Species across the room.

  “How is Wind?”

  Mel really did love Snow’s voice, and she once again experienced that tingling sensation from her nipples. He still had that effect on her despite being struck by a bullet.

  “The shot must have missed Wind’s heart but he’s in a lot of pain. Jinx has pressure on the wound to slow the bleeding. The helicopter isn’t at Reservation. We’re doing a scoop and run. I’m taking Wind with Jinx now. The rest of you will remain here until the backup teams arrive,” one of the New Species ordered. “The two gunmen are alive, but I don’t think one of them will ma—”

  “Enough,” Snow snapped. “She doesn’t need to hear that.” He leaned in closer. “Melinda, you’re very pale. I’m going to lift you, and we’re going with them.”

  Mel was being taken to Reservation. That stunned her.

  But I love the way he says my name. I’ll go anywhere with him.

  “You’re not taking her!” Mary’s voice sounded panicked and near hysterical.

  “We have an excellent medical facility. Your human hospital is too far away. She is coming with me,” Snow firmly stated.

  Snow released her waist and she swayed, but he bent and locked one of his arms behind her knees, while wrapping the other around her back. He hoisted her up against his chest. The fast motion made her dizzy, And Mel closed her eyes.

  “Hang on, Melinda,” he rasped. “You did a brave deed. Those males would have shot more of us. We couldn’t reach our ankle holsters with them watching our every move.”

  She hadn’t known they had guns. That surprised her.

  He jogged outside with her, and the motion made her feel sick to her stomach. It would be just her luck if she puked on the guy she imagined naked all the time.

  She sealed her lips and tried to breathe through her nose. It did distract her from the increased throbbing in her arm, and the fact that blood still dripped from the wound.

  Chapter Two

  Mel heard sirens in the distance. The sheriff or one of his deputies must be on their way. Maybe even all of them. It wasn’t like shootings happened in their small town every day.

  “Throw your good arm around my neck,” Snow ordered, slowing down.

  It took her a second to comply, since that arm had gotten smashed between his big chest and her body. Her fingers brushed his silky hair, and she felt his firm back along her forearm. She dug her fingers into muscle on his shoulder.

  He adjusted his arm under her waist as she turned her head, watching him yank open a door on the black NSO SUV. He slid into the front passenger seat and lifted her body until she had to release his shoulder to sit on his lap. He turned her a little, pressing her spine against his chest, then slammed the door closed.

  The driver’s-side door was thrown open and the blond canine in charge got behind the wheel. He looked furious and seriously scary with his mouth open, showing fangs. He didn’t glare at her, though. He fixed his full attention on Snow.

  “You shouldn’t bring her. Their medical facilities can tend to her better.”

  “No,” Snow growled. “She goes with us, Timber.”

  After a moment, Timber nodded.

  Doors opened in the back and the SUV rocked a bit. A few of the New Species gently placed the bleeding one across the bench seat, and a black-haired feline climbed in, too. Mel glanced back, watching. She saw flashing lights as the sirens grew louder. That made the situation more real. She faced forward, still feeling like she could puke.

  “Careful,” someone warned from the backseat. “Easy. Don’t jostle Wind too much. Jinx, do you got him?”

  “Yes. Stay with me, Wind. You’re too damn annoying to die. Remember that.”

  “I have females to impress,” Wind groaned.

  “That’s right,” Jinx agreed. “Every female is going to want to coddle you and kiss your boo-boo.”

  The back doors slammed closed and the vehicle engine roared to life. Snow tensed and adjusted his hold on Mel again. He wrapped one of his arms around her, right under her breasts, and braced his feet against the floorboards. His other hand gripped the center divider.

  “Go, Timber,” Jinx demanded from the back. “I’ve got Wind pinned against the seat and I’m keeping pressure on his wound.”

  Mel wondered for the need to pin him down even as Timber gripped the steering wheel tight with one hand and punched the gas after throwing the SUV into drive.

  The tires squealed in protest, and it made Mel grateful that Snow held her tight, since the motion threw her backward into him. Pain lanced down her arm and she almost blacked out.

  She wished she had lost consciousness when she looked out the windshield. Timber did a great impression of being a race car driver. He must have shoved his foot all the way down on the gas and didn’t seem inclined to ease off any.

  He swerved around a slower-moving car, and then took a turn so fast, she closed her eyes. The motion of being thrown against the door despite Snow holding her jarred her enough to hurt like hell. The vehicle straightened and she opened her eyes.

  It was a mistake.

  Timber leaned forward on the straightaway and messed with the dash. She hoped he wasn’t going to turn on music.

  Her mouth opened in horror as the SUV gained ground on a truck ahead of them. The urge to scream choked her; it seemed as if the canine driver planned to ram right into the back of the vehicle.

  But he swerved, barely missing the blue truck at the last second. It was lucky there wasn’t any oncoming traffic on the two-lane highway. He went back to the right side of the road after they’d cleared the truck.

  A soft ringing started, and she though it must be in her ears. But a voice came on next.

  “Talk to me. Situation?”

  That helped clue her in that they were using a Bluetooth-synced phone.

  Snow twisted his body a little in the seat and turned his head. “Wind is conscious but bleeding heavily. Jinx is applying pressure to slow the bleeding. We also have a human female who’s been shot in the upper arm. She’s losing some blood but it’s not bad.”

  She dared to glance at her arm. It was really bloody. She wondered what his definition of “bad” was. It looked pret